Apparatus for the transformation of the sugar cane into saw-dust



F. M. DlAZ 2,008,852

.0? THE SUGAR CANE INTO SAW DUST July 23, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION Original Filed Sept. 21, 1931 I2 fawn/v00 MazzuDmz.

lNVf/VTOH Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SUGAR CANE INTO- SAW-DUST Fernando Moreu Diaz, Motril, Spain ruary 20, 1933, Serial January 7, 1931,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to an apparatus hereafter specified for shredding the sugar cane to a kind of saw-dust. V

It is based on the mechanical concept of reducing the exterior pressure on the cane to the shredding forces of rotating toothed circular saws, operating at a high angular speed of about 2000 to 3000 revolutions per minute, thereby supplying the kinetic energy m 22 required for the complete. disintegration of the sugar cane.

It will be clearly understood that according to the above mentioned formula, by increasing the speed 1), the mass m brought into action is reduced to a minimum.

I succeeded in suppressing the encumbrance of great mass of the mills or rollers or other hydraulic apparatus including all the disadvantages thereof, as, for instance, considerably less space and power required, and consequent reduction of high labor costs, maintenance and initial costs of the installation.

The present invention is based on the mechanical principle of eliminating all exterior hydraulic pressure, replacing the same by shredding forces of the rotating circular saws and not only comprises the advantages already mentioned above, but also other of mechanical nature of still greater importance specified as follows:

In the present practice the great hydraulic pressures of the mills or other mechanical apparatus causes many impurities in the juice as parts of the cellular materials and other elements of the young stalk as pepsine, albuminoides, gums, silex, coloring substances and wax, making it necessary to purify the said juice again.

The invention prevents the pollution of the juice as the cellular sacksare subjected to only small cutting forces. Furthermore, in the cellular processes still in use, the reduction contents in sugar of the woody portion of the cane (bagasse) is accomplished by the addition of large quantities of water, which means higher manufacturing costs for the evaporation of the Water placed in circulation.

The present invention effects the separation of the pure juice without any addition of water, unless a reduction to zero of this content of sugar is desired.

This application is a. division from the copending application Serial No. 564,184, filed Septem- No. 657,733. In Spain ber 21, 1931. a

A preferred form of this apparatus is illustrated in the drawing.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, showing respectively a longi- 5 tudinal and a transverse section, the apparatus is composed of an electric motor coupled to a pulley or pinion 4, driving the shaft l2 mounted on roller bearing I. On said shaft l2, by means of a special construction l4 and 3 are mounted 10 the necessary circular saws 2, the number and diameter of which depend upon the imposed production of the engine.

On the other end of the shaft I2 a fly wheel I0 is mounted. By means of a gear construction 15 5 and 6 two toothed shaft drivers 1 are provided for supplying the sugar cane through the hopper l3 to the circular and slantingly mounted saws. The shafts 1A are mounted in two bronze bearings 8 in the frame 9. This frame 9 is closed by 20 two steel plates ll.

Numerals I5'and l6 denote shielding members over the saws leaving only a narrow space between the saw teeth and said members.

The invention having been set forth, what is 25 claimed as new and useful is:

An apparatus in which are provided means of complete disintegration of the vascular fibrous material of the cane in such a manner, that the small cellular sacks of the cane are ruptured 30 without experiencing any hydraulic exterior pressure only by means of the shredding forces of the circular saws, said apparatus comprising a motor driven horizontal shaft, circular saws mounted on said shaft at a predetermined inclination with 35 respect to the axis of said shaft, and shielding members substantially inclosing the upper portion of the saws mounted to leave a very narrow space between said members and the saw teeth, said shielding members providing a feed open- 40 ing between their edges, a housing forming together with said shielding members a substantially complete enclosure for said circular saws and consisting of end standards provided with bearings for said shaft and aprons forming down- 45 ward continuations of said shielding members, filling completely the front and rear spaces between said end standards.

FERNANDO MOREU DIAZ. 

